Bed Bug Cover

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a bug repellent cover. The cover comprises a zipper opening provided at the end of the cover and a flap provided at the end of the zipper opening. The flap is provided with Velcro on its edges that help the flap to open and close easily. The zipper opening begins at the outside edge of the cover that can be zipped to prevent the intrusion of bugs. The flap can be closed inwards to provide an outer cover to the end of the zipper opening. The zipper opening overlapped by the flap helps to prevent the intrusion of bugs into the cover. After closing the zipper, the fabric can be folded over. The zipper is non-allergenic. The fabric material is made of the laminated poly cotton. The present invention can be used for pillow cover, baby cripes cover and box spring mattress of all sizes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates generally to bug repellent pillow covers and more particularly to a bug repellent pillow cover with a zipper opening and a flap to prevent the intrusion of bugs into the cover.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Bed bugs feed on human blood, and do so during the nighttime hours when we are sleeping. They like to stay close to their food source and so make their homes in our beds. Between 85 and 90% of the bed bugs in an infested home will be found on or within 15 feet of the bed. Using a bed bug mattress cover can minimize such infestations. A bed bug mattress cover, also called a mattress encasement, is a tightly woven case that keeps bed bugs from infesting your mattress or box spring. Once it is installed, bed bugs already in the furniture cannot escape, and will eventually die inside the encasement. Bed bugs on the outside of the mattress cover will not be able to live and breed in the mattress, since they can't penetrate the barrier of the encasement. Bed bugs are easier to spot on a mattress cover because there are no deep seams or crevices where bed bugs can hide.

Some bed bug mattresses are chemically treated with insecticides, which repel the bedbugs. This can be a potential hazard for the host who lies on such a mattress cover. This can cause skin and respiratory ailments. In a case where the mattress cover does not fit the mattress, it can leave wrinkles and grooves making a hiding spot for the bed bugs.

Therefore, there is a need for a bed bug mattress cover that prevents bed bugs from entering or exiting the mattress. Such a device is described as which includes a zipper opening at one end of the cover and with a Velcro strap on its edges which helps the flap to open and close easily. Moreover, such a device would be capable to prevent the intrusion of bugs into the mattress. The present embodiment accomplishes these objectives.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention is a bug repellent pillow cover that comprises a zipper opening and a flap. The zipper opening is provided at the end of the cover and the flap is provided at the end of the zipper opening. The flap is provided with Velcro on its edges that help the flap to open and close easily. The zipper opening begins at the outside edge of the pillow cover. It can be zipped to prevent the intrusion of bugs. The flap can be closed inwards to provide an outer cover to the end of the zipper opening. The zipper opening overlapped by the flap helps in preventing the intrusion of bugs into the cover. The zipper and fabric is longer than the mattress. On closure, the zipper and the fabric can be folded over. The zipper is non-allergenic. The fabric material is made of the laminated poly cotton. The Velcro is half inch weight and the zipper size is 5 inches. The present invention can be used for pillow covers, mattresses and box spring mattress of all sizes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed bug protective encasement for a mattress with a zipper in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement for a mattress with a flap in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement for a mattress showing the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement for a mattress showing the preferred embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement for a mattress showing the preferred embodiments of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement for a mattress showing the preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed bug protective encasement 10 for a mattress (not shown) with a cover 12 with an elongated opening with a first end 14 and a second end 16. These openings receive the mattress (not shown). The cover 12 includes a zipper opening 24 at a first end 14 of the cover 12. A protective layer 18 comprises of a base 20 attached with a flap 22 and the zipper opening 24 closes at the second end 16. The flap 22 is provided with Velcro 26 on its edges that help the flap 22 to open and close easily. The zipper opening 24 begins at the outside edge of the mattress cover 12. It can be zipped to prevent the intrusion of bugs.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement 10 for a mattress (not shown) with a flap 22 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention 10. The elongated opening with the first end 14 is shown. The cover 12 includes the zipper opening 24 at the first end 14 of the cover 12. A protective layer 18 comprises of the base 20 attached with the flap 22 and the zipper opening 24. The flap 22 is provided with Velcro 26 on its edges that help the flap 22 to open and close easily. The zipper opening 24 begins at the outside edge of the mattress cover 12. It can be zipped to prevent the intrusion of bugs.

Referring to FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement 10 for a mattress showing the preferred embodiments of the present invention 10. The cover 12 includes the zipper opening 24 at the first end 14 of the cover 12. These openings receive the mattress (not shown). A protective layer 18 comprises of the base 20 attached with the flap 22 and the zipper opening 24 closes at the second end 16. The flap 22 is provided with Velcro 26 on its edges that help the flap 22 to open and close easily. The zipper opening 24 begins at the outside edge of the mattress cover 12. It can be zipped to prevent the intrusion of bugs. The elongated opening with the first end 14 and the second end 16 is shown. The cover 12 includes the zipper opening 24 at the first end 14 of the cover 12. The zipper opening 24 begins at the outside edge of the mattress cover 12.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement 10 for a mattress (not shown) with the flap 22 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention 10. The cover 12 includes the zipper opening 24 of the cover 12 is also shown. A protective layer 18 comprises of the base 20 (not shown) attached with the flap 22. The flap 22 is provided with Velcro 26 on its edges. The Velcro 26 helps the flap 22 to open and close easily. The zipper opening 24 begins at the outside edge of the mattress cover 12.

Referring to FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement 10 for a mattress (not shown) with the flap 22 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention 10. The elongated opening with the first end 14 is shown. The cover 12 includes the zipper opening 24 at the second end 16 of the cover 12. A protective layer 18 comprises of the base 20 attached with the flap 22 and the zipper opening 24. The flap 22 is provided with Velcro 26 on its edges that help the flap 22 to open and close easily. The zipper opening 24 begins at the outside edge of the mattress cover 12. It can be zipped to prevent the intrusion of bugs.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bed bug protective encasement 10 for a mattress (not shown) with the flap 22 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention 10. The elongated opening at the second end 16 is shown. The cover 12 includes the zipper opening 24 at the second end 14 of the cover 12. A protective layer 18 comprises of the base 20 (not shown) attached with the flap 22 and the zipper opening 24. The flap 22 is provided with Velcro 26 on its edges that help the flap 22 to open and close easily. The zipper opening 24 begins at the outside edge of the mattress cover 12. It can be zipped to prevent the intrusion of bugs.

The various test methods are well known and determine the properties of the Home Extras mattress encasement and its effectiveness against bed bugs in both bite and barrier test assays. The tests are given:

-   -   Bed bug bite proof assay     -   20 unfed bed bugs from first instar nymphs through to adults         were placed inside an insect container and attached to the         specially designed bed bug artificial feeder. The artificial         feeder was covered with either the Home Extras test seam or zip         or a positive control of fine mesh. Heparinized human blood was         loaded into the artificial feeding system and kept at 37-39         degree celsius with the use of a water bath. Bed bug behavior         was monitored and analyzed over a period of one hour. In the         Home Extras test system the bed bugs appeared to try to feed but         after several attempts lost interest and failed to show any         signs of being fed. When these bed bugs were placed in the         positive mesh control feeding system they fed readily and become         engorged as expected.     -   Bed bug barrier assay     -   20 unfed bed bugs both fed and unfed from first instar nymphs         through to adults were placed inside an insect container covered         with either the Home Extras test seam or zip or the Home Extras         test zip with an opening to act as a positive control. The         insect containers were placed into a testing arena to enable bed         bug movement to be analyzed. The activity of the bed bugs was         monitored for 12 hours. In the Home Extras fabric test sample         the bed bugs were safely contained within the insect container         for the duration of the assay.

The specific parameters of Allergen barrier test is listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 SOP/METHOD SP305 Simulated Use Allergen Barrier Test Customer Sample Der p 1 Fel d 1 Reference Ng % Ng % ASC002295 Fabric <LOD 100 <LOD 100 ASC002295 Seam <LOD 100 <LOD 100 ASC002295 Zipper 118.08 96.80 129.35 98.80 High Fabric Control 3689.26 Na 10742.74 Na Comments Test is carried out in duplicate the results are Represented as averages Data is reported as percentages of allergen Passage prevention compared to the high fabric Control Concentration of ATD used: Der p1 10.83 μg/g, Fel d1 34.19 μg/g

The specific parameter of Allergen Analysis—ELISA Data is listed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 AHL Lab Report No. A393 SOP/Method SP300 & SP301 Customer Sample Sample Sample Der p1 Der p1 Fel d1 Fel d1 Reference Type ID μ TRA μ TRA μ TRA μ TRA ASC002295 DUST- 393.01 <LOD <LOD <LOD <LOD Fabric 1 SUT ASC002295 393.02 <LOD <LOD <LOD <LOD Fabric 2 ASC002295 393.03 <LOD <LOD <LOD <LOD Seam 1 ASC002295 393.04 <LOD <LOD <LOD <LOD Seam 2 ASC002295 393.05 0.15 145.93 0.11 114.83 Zipper 1 ASC002295 393.06 0.09 90.23 0.14 143.86 Zipper 2

While a particular form of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A bed bug protective encasement for a mattress comprising: a cover having an elongated opening with a first end and a second end formed therein, the elongated opening being adaptable to receive the mattress within the cover; a protective layer provided at the second end of the elongated opening, the protective layer having a base attached with the cover and a flap engaged with the base, wherein the flap being adaptable to fold over the base to prevent the intrusion of bed bugs to the cover; and a fastening mechanism disposed in the elongated opening and extending along the flap; whereby the bed bug protective encasement for a mattress provides an outer cover for the mattress and also comprises of the zipper opening at the first end of the cover and the flap engaged is adapted to fold over the zipper to a closed position to prevent the intrusion of bugs into the mattress and can be used for pillow cover, box spring mattress of all sizes and for baby cripes.
 2. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 1 wherein the cover includes a first opening and a second opening adaptable to receive the mattress there through.
 3. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 1 wherein a fabric cover is made of laminated poly cotton.
 4. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 1 wherein the fabric cover is bed bug impervious.
 5. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 1 wherein the protective layer is provided at the second end of the elongated opening of the cover.
 6. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 1 wherein the base is engaged with the protective layer of the cover.
 7. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 1 wherein the flap is engaged with the base of the protective layer.
 8. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 1 wherein a zipper opening is extended along the flap.
 9. The bed bug protective encasement for a mattress comprising: a cover having an elongated opening with a first end and a second end formed therein, the elongated opening being adaptable to receive the mattress within the cover; a protective layer provided at the second end of the elongated opening, the protective layer comprises: a base attached with the cover; and a flap engaged with the base, wherein the flap being adaptable to fold over the base to prevent the intrusion of bed bugs to the cover; and a fastening mechanism disposed in the elongated opening and extending along the flap; whereby the bed bug protective encasement provides an outer cover for the mattress and also comprises of the zipper opening at the first end of the cover and the flap engaged is adapted to fold over the zipper to a closed position to prevent the intrusion of bugs into the mattress.
 10. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 9 wherein the entire facing sides of both the cover and the flap provide a substantially bed bug impermeable barrier.
 11. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 9 wherein the cover having an elongated opening with the first end and the second end formed is adaptive to receive the mattress within the cover.
 12. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 9 wherein the protective layer is provided at the second end of the elongated opening of the cover.
 13. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 9 wherein the base is engaged with the protective layer of the cover.
 14. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 9 wherein the flap is engaged with the base of the protective layer.
 15. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 9 wherein the flap is overlapped to the base of the protective layer helps to prevent the intrusion of the bugs into the mattress.
 16. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 9 wherein the fastening mechanism is the zipper opening.
 17. The bed bug protective encasement of claim 9 wherein the zipper opening is extended along the flap. 